Heather Nicole Dorris, a 25-year-old woman from Livingston, Texas, tragically lost her life on December 30, 2010. Her body was discovered early the next morning on Old Woodville Road, east of Livingston. Heather sustained seven gunshot wounds, two of which were fatal. The projectiles recovered during the autopsy were likely fired from a .22 caliber weapon, although the murder weapon itself was never recovered.
Following an extensive investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Department
and Texas Rangers, Cordell Renard Green, a 23-year-old resident of Livingston, was arrested on February 14, 2011, in Nacogdoches after a five-day manhunt. Green initially confessed to several individuals that he had committed the crime and fled to Houston before being captured. He was charged with first-degree murder and, during his trial, elected to change his plea to guilty, receiving a life sentence.
In addition to Green, another individual, John Wesley McDuffie, 18, was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence related to Heather's murder. McDuffie was held in the Polk County Jail under a $100,000 bond.
The case drew significant attention from local law enforcement and the community, with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Heather's family appealing to the public for assistance in finding her killer. The investigation involved multiple witnesses, including those who saw Heather in a confrontation on the night of her death and an eyewitness who saw her allow Green into her vehicle.
Heather's tragic death and the subsequent investigation highlighted the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and the community in seeking justice for the young woman. The case remains a poignant reminder of the impact of violent crime on families and communities.
